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Contact: Kerry Heckman, 517-643-1256

DNR pilot photo of the Ridge Fire Sunday afternoon.

Michigan Department of Natural Resources firefighters and local partners are working to contain two wildfires in Marquette and Baraga counties. Fire danger is at very high levels today due to drought conditions, warm temperatures and strong winds.

The Ridge Fire, estimated at approximately 256 acres, is burning approximately 10 miles northwest of Marquette between County Road 510 and North Basin Drive. The fire is located in very rugged, difficult terrain, making suppression efforts from firefighters on the ground very challenging. Two Fire Boss aircraft – which scoop up water to drop on the fire – from Minnesota and a Michigan State Police Aviation Type 2 helicopter are assisting with fire suppression efforts today. In addition, 40 DNR firefighters are on the ground working to establish dozer line where they can in an effort to establish containment lines. Negaunee Township Fire Department is also assisting.

Three residences on County Road 510 have been evacuated due to the Ridge Fire. Marquette County Sheriff’s Office has established an evacuation center at Negaunee Township Hall, located at 42 East State Hwy M-35 in Negaunee. The Red Cross will be assisting evacuees and their pets at this location. Officials have initiated the “Ready, Set, Go!” protocol for residents located along North Basin Drive. The current status is now at “Set,” which means residents in this area are encouraged to do the following:

• Monitor local media and emergency alerts.
• Load vehicles with emergency bags and valuables.
• Be ready to leave – conditions can change quickly so be alert and ready to act.

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Contact: Marquette Incident Coordination Center, 906-249-1497

Water-scooping planes have been called in from Minnesota to help fight a remote wildfire north of Craig Lake in Baraga County.

The fire likely began as two separate lightning strike fires, which then merged together, said Paul Rogers, a fire prevention specialist with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

The fires were discovered around 2:45 p.m. Thursday.

The fire grew to 16 acres by Thursday night and has remained roughly the same size throughout the day today.

A Michigan State Police helicopter has been working the fire area, scooping water into a collapsible canvas device known as a “Bambi Bucket.”

The two planes from Hibbing, Minnesota arrived this afternoon and are lifting water out of Lake Michigamme to dump on the fire. The planes were expected to return to Minnesota later today.

DNR firefighters are on the rugged, remote fire scene. Additional personnel from Craig Lake State Park have been assisting fire crews by opening gates for better firefighter access to the blaze.

“We’re continuing to get resources trying to get hand crews in there and get access through old logging roads into the site,” Rogers said. “We are trying to get as much containment on it today as we can with the high winds that are expected tomorrow.”

Rogers asked people to avoid the area, which is popular for fall color. He also asked people to keep personal drones on the ground.

“Fire suppression aircraft can’t fly when drones are present,” he said.

For more information on firefighting in Michigan visit Michigan.gov/FireManagement.

Groundbreaking research provides a science-based foundation for leopard conservation, sustainable management, and future monitoring.

SCI Foundation has completed the first national-scale assessment of leopard density and distribution across Botswana, providing critical new data to support science-based wildlife management.

From September 2022 through December 2024, SCIF and its partners caried out an unprecedented field effort across Botswana, surveying 20 sites with more than 1,000 trail camera stations. Researchers recorded 1,424 leopard detections and identified 434 individual adult leopards, making this one of the most comprehensive leopard research efforts conducted in the country.

Following completion of the fieldwork, the data underwent rigorous scientific analyses to estimate leopard density, evaluate patterns in distribution, and better understand the ecological factors influencing leopard populations. This work culminated in the completion of the final report in August 2026, providing Botswana with a strong scientific foundation to support long-term leopard conservation and management.

The study estimated leopard density at 19 sites and found that abundance varied widely across Botswana, ranging from 0.15 to 2.74 leopards per 100 square kilometers. These results show why local data is essential for responsible management decisions, rather than relying on a single nationwide assumption.

Using the survey data, SCIF researchers also developed national maps of predicted leopard abundance and distribution. The model estimated Botswana’s leopard population at approximately 6,262 leopards, with a likely range of 5,676 to 6,849. The findings confirm that leopards remain widely distributed across Botswana while also identifying areas that may serve as important population strongholds and movement corridors.

Importantly, the study provides direct density estimates for 19 sites across the country, along with measures of certainty for each estimate. This gives wildlife managers practical, site-specific information that can help guide population management decisions while also providing a broader understanding of leopard abundance, distribution, and connectivity across Botswana. Read more